Maps are useful, but things change

I hope this involves up-to-date mapping data, because I know that some published OS maps are at least a couple of years out of date, still missing new roundabouts on major roads, and it took time for both roundabouts to get onto other on-line maps and sat-nav databases.

And GPS or map data just isn't going to be good enough to stop vehicles hitting anything.

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

The online maps are out of date. A roundabout near me is not shown online, nor is the massive housing esate being constructed (20% houses are now lived in).

However, I know the premium accounts show far more than online, as that is just simply the paper versions.

It does raise a point. How will an self drive car deal with things such as new roundabouts. If the car was to "scan" the area, it would think little has changed, as the old road, pretty much goes straight on as it did before (just with a little kink), but it now has to give way to traffic from junction that used to never have priority.

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

That said, I'd trust the OS to be more accurate and up to date than Google or any other supplier...

It should be, but I wouldn't bet on the OS knowing more than Google.

If a constant stream of android phones running google maps in vehicles are travelling at 30 mph in opposite directions through what's recorded as an open field then Google could decide there might be a new road there and stick it on a map automatically. I wouldn't say it's impossible that Google could get more information from location data on andriod phones than the OS does through their processes.

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

At times, Google is more up to date with its stuff given it pulls data from a variety of sources, including the OS. Case in point:

OS: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/51.5968055,-1.2752334,16

Google: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5968055,-1.2752334,16z

Google shows the new Harwell Village bypass (the little road to the east of the A34), OS doesn't. The road isn't even open yet... yet Google already includes it. This comes from the Highways Agency whose proposals to the Oxfordshire County Council (well, the SODC) included the complete alignments...

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

"Google shows the new Harwell Village bypass (the little road to the east of the A34), OS doesn't. The road isn't even open yet... yet Google already includes it."

You'd better hope that satnav systems are using the OS version, then, otherwise the workers building the bypass will get a nasty surprise when some clueless idiot follows his satnav's instructions to take the road that they are still building.

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

Re: Maps are useful, but things change

"It does raise a point. How will an self drive car deal with things such as new roundabouts. If the car was to "scan" the area, it would think little has changed, as the old road, pretty much goes straight on as it did before (just with a little kink), but it now has to give way to traffic from junction that used to never have priority."

Hopefully, the AV designers will continue to, as now, give priority to what the car "sees" over what the probably out-of-date maps show.

As for online maps being out of date, there's no real need for that now. I don't see it being a hard thing to have a central OS mapping portal where all changes must be logged as part of the planning process. There's no practical reason why that can't happen since the only people making changes to the road network are national and local government. Changes already have to go through a planning process which involves all sorts of legally mandated processes. The AV will still need to identify short term blockages such as vehicle making deliveries etc., but that's a fundamental part of the design process anyway.

The really interesting bit will be the sudden appearance of sink-holes or weather related events such as flash flooding, mud slides and exploding manhole covers, not to mention identifying where the road is in heavy snow! I've driven down the A1 from Scotland and there are parts of the single carriage way stretches where a few inches of snow makes it almost impossible to identify the edges of the road. Yoiu really don't want to be the one in front in those parts.

OS Maps vs Google or anything else.

I'm wondering why anyone would use an OS map in a car except for off roading. I've only ever used OS maps on foot, usually miles from the nearest road. In a car I use a Road map, as current as I can find. PP

Re: "a valuable contribution to us achieving our bold ambitions."

CAVs??

I wish to be first to welcome our Giant Robot Overlords - mine's the one with the "I was an Emperor Driver before Pontious was a Pilot" and "Wipe your feet when you step on a tank" patches... (since the gaming geeks seem to have deserted El Reg, it behoves me to quote from the internet's oracle of everything [E&OE], "CAV or Combat Assault Vehicle is a miniatures wargame by Reaper Miniatures.")

Also, doesn't 'autonomous' suggest it shouldn't need to be connected while working, or am I missing something?

User Case pt 94

Arterial road, by name not designation, changed it's contraflow overnight recently from the westbound to eastbound carriageway. I'm guessing that the AV would just follow the correct traffic or would it get confused wit potentially incorrect mapping?

Additionally I'm guessing OS bean counters are working out how to provide daily electronic mapping updates and to appropriately monetize.

Back in the late 1970s (80/90s??) there was a story of someone who had digitised a map of the UK to support his bird watching hobby. IIRC a Government agency found it a useful starting point for something they were tasked with doing.

...where should UK's driverless cars go?

£750,000 ... Over the project's four-year life...

Wow! So at best that's two research jobs at the OS the government are funding, at worst, it will cover some of the computing costs...

Whilst we can't complain about the OS trying to make the most out of this additional funding, it does make you wonder whether those in government really want the project to deliver anything more than a set of powerpoint slides...